A Debt of Honor

Hastings took the ten dollars extended to him and his face brightened.

“Now I am not afraid to have you come,” he said. “My wife’s a good cook when she has the wherewithal. We’ve been reduced to short-commons lately.”

“Well,” said the clerk, as Gerald returned to the hotel, “did you call on Tom Hastings?”

“Yes; I found him at home. I am going there to supper to night.”

“You don’t say so!” ejaculated the clerk in astonishment. “Did Tom Hastings invite you?”

“Yes; he and his wife used to know my father and mother.”

“You will excuse my suggesting it, but it might be wise for you to eat something here before you go over. Hastings isn’t much in the habit of entertaining strangers, and I don’t think he sets a very good table.”

“I think there will be a good supper to-night,” said Gerald. “At any rate I will risk it.”

He proved to be right. Mrs. Hastings was a good cook when she had the wherewithal, as her husband expressed it, and she did her best, going herself to the village market for supplies. It is safe to say that Gerald fared better than he would have done at the hotel.

He was very cordially received by Mrs. Hastings, who indulged in reminiscences of his mother, to which he listened eagerly.

“She was a good woman,” said Mrs. Hastings, “and I was grieved to hear of her death. I am sure she would have lived longer but for the wicked plot of Bradley Wentworth against your father.”

“You knew about it?”

“Yes; and I could not bear to think that my husband was aiding and abetting him in his wicked scheme. I hope the time will come when his injustice will be repaired.”

“I think it will, Mrs. Hastings. To that end I have been working ever since my father’s death. I think Providence directed me to your husband as the man who could help me. His testimony will be most important.”

“And it will be forthcoming, Gerald,” said Mr. Hastings. “I have stood by Bradley Wentworth long enough. I never liked him as well as your father, and I am prepared to help you because you are the son of Warren Lane.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hastings.”

“I am a poor man. Still I make no condition. When you come to your own you will not forget that I helped you to it.”

“I shall not forget it, Mr. Hastings. Do I understand that you will be ready to give your testimony whenever I may call upon you?”

“I promise it. When do you leave Brentwood?”

“To-morrow morning, but it will not be long before you will hear from me.”

CHAPTER XXXVII

A LETTER FROM GULCHVILLE

When Gerald returned to St. Louis after a longer trip than he had originally contemplated, he was cordially received.

“You have succeeded remarkably well, Gerald,” said his employer. “I have never before employed so young a traveling salesman, and I may add that I have never sent one out of any age who succeeded as well on his first trip.”

“If you are satisfied with me,” said Gerald modestly, “I am very glad.”

“It will not be long before I shall have occasion to send you again. Meanwhile I will add five dollars a week to your salary.”

It often happens that one piece of good luck follows another.

Two days after Gerald’s return he received a letter from John Carter, who, it will be remembered, was left to occupy, rent free, the cabin in Gulchville, which had been Gerald’s old home. On making an engagement with the St. Louis firm Gerald had sent his address to Carter, with the request that he would from time to time communicate with him, in case there should be any news which he ought to know.

This was the material portion of the letter:

“I would have written you before, but had nothing to interest you. I have made a good living, having employment most of the time in logging. I am able to live comfortably, and my son Oscar is as happy as the day is long. He is no longer weak and puny, as he was when we first came here, but is strong and healthy, with red cheeks.

“Your friend (?) Jake Amsden is drinking more than ever. It is a mystery where he gets his money from. At any rate he seems to have a fair supply. I am sure he does not earn it, for he does not work one day in the week on the average. He seems to be very much interested in this claim, and hinted more than once that he would like to buy it and pay a fair price. I asked him how he expected to pay for it. He answered with an air of mystery that he had a friend who would furnish the money. I am inclined to think this friend is Bradley Wentworth, for I hear at the post-office that Amsden gets letters from Seneca at intervals.

“This brings me to the important part of my letter. Gulchville is booming! A land company represented by two Chicago men are here, buying up land, with the intention of laying out a town and selling lots. They want this property. It so happens that your land will be in the center of the town, as laid out by them. They tried to open negotiations with me, but I told them I was not the owner. They are anxious to meet you and talk matters over. You may be surprised when I tell you that you can probably get five thousand dollars for the land you own. Of course the cabin don’t count. That I should like to buy from you and move to some land farther away.

“I advise you to come on at once, for the parties are in a hurry, and it is best to strike while the iron is hot. The time you will lose in your business won’t amount to anything in comparison with the sum you will obtain from the sale of the property.

“I enclose a letter just received for you, bearing the Seneca postmark. I presume you can guess who wrote it.

    “Yours truly,
    “John Carter.”

This was great news, and made Gerald feel like a rich man, or, rather, boy, but curiosity led him to open at once the letter from Seneca.

“It read thus:

“Gerald Lane:

“I have no particular reason to feel friendly toward you, as you have rejected all my offers made in kindness, but I do not forget that your father and I were young men together. I am aware, of course, that your future is very precarious, as the engagement you have at present with the English tourist is likely to terminate at an early day. What will become of you then?

“In view of your unfortunate position I will buy the cabin and land which your father left to you. Its intrinsic value is very small, but I will give you a thousand dollars for it, which I imagine is more than can be got for it five years hence. However, I offer it as a favor to you, who are the son of my old acquaintance and fellow-clerk. It will be necessary for you to give me an early answer, otherwise I shall consider you are blind to your own interest, in which case I cannot promise to leave the offer open.

“I send the letter to the care of the man who lives on your place, as he will probably know where to forward it to you.

    “Yours, etc.,
    “Bradley Wentworth.”

“P. S. – I don’t care to buy the papers, as the sum you are offered for the property will put you in good circumstances.”

Gerald smiled as he finished reading this letter.

“Evidently,” he said to himself, “Bradley Wentworth knows that there is a scheme to boom real estate in Gulchville. He doesn’t offer enough.”

CHAPTER XXXVIII

GERALD SELLS HIS PATRIMONY

“Mr. Sandford, do you think you can spare me for a short time?” asked Gerald, as he entered the presence of his employer.

Mr. Sandford looked surprised.